Snow removal machine



Aug, 2', 1938, J. .1. MARINO SNOW REMOVAL MACHINE Filed June 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 XNVENTOR 7072M JMawzno ATTORNEYS Au 2, 1938 J. J. MARRNO- 2,125,797

SNOW REMOVAL MACHINE I Filed June 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i i & r1 zz 55 :r I ri: I

WITNESSES INVENTOR 757171 Jfm'ar'i/ lo BY M WHNEVS W Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICIE 2,125,797 sNow REMOVAL MACHINE John J. Marino, New York, N. Y. Application June 8, 1937, Serial No. 146,995

7 Claims. (01. 37-12) This invention relates to snow plows, and more particularly to plows adapted to the cleaning of streets, and the disposal of the snow at the same time.

In the past, various types of plows or snow removers have been used to clean streets, roads and other thoroughfares. Some of these plows are drawn by a motor element, while others are pushed by motor means. In the past, machines have been constructed for disposing of snow, but have been impractical for many reasons.

' An object of this invention is to provide a snow removing machine of great mobility and one which will dispose of the snow by contact therewith.

Another object is to provide a device which will melt the snow and provide for the disposal of the water resulting therefrom;

In the past, machines were provided for melting snow but made no provision for taking care of the resulting vapors, which tend to freeze on the sidewalks, windows and other surfaces, thus rendering the use of the machines impractical. One of the objects of this invention is the condensation of the vapors caused by melting snow.

A still further object is to provide a device which is mobile and which may be attached to the ordinary truck, which is the standard equipment of most city street cleaning departments.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a cross-sectional view of my improved machine, taken on the line l--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 represents a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a front view of my device.

The machine Ill, which consists of a body or cabinet portion H, has a front or contact plate l2. The contact plate I2 is divided and slopes gradually back from the peak l3 thereof. On the side contact plate are a plurality of gutters, I4, which slope gently downward from the peak, l3. These gutters are adapted to pick up the snow and hold it against the contact plate l2 The gutters are provided with openings I5 so that the melting water under the snow will drop through to the next gutter and the surplus water will flow to the sides of the contact plate and be disposed of. On the bottom portion of the contact plate is a straight plate H which is adjustable and may be replaced when worn. On either side of the contact plate, l2 there are pivoted side arms l8 provided with wing members [9; for the purpose of strength, the wing members I!) may be re-inforced by a bar, 20. Side arms I8 arepivotedat 2| and a roller 22 is provided at this point to prevent scraping of the device against a curb or other obstruction. The rear portions of the arm l8 are connected by bars 23, which in turn, are united and fixed by means of a pivot at 24;

Behind the contact plate 12 is a compartment, or cabinet ll in'which are placed fuel and air tanks 26 and 21 which supply burners 28. These tanks, 26 and 2'! are provided with standard compressing units. The burners 28 throw a flame against the'rear of the contact plate l2 and while any number of burners may be used, it is believedthat six is the most practical number. The burners 28 are pivotally mounted so that the flame may be thrown on any desired portion of the contact plate or concentrated on any particular section thereof. The burners 2B are controlled by the customary valves which may be of c any standard type.

Situated above the contact plate I2 is a shield, 29. This shield is semi-circular and slopes upwardly toward the center. At the central portion thereof, there is an opening leading into a chamber 30 and the pipe 3|. A fan or blower 32 is mounted in the chamber and driven by a motor 34. Thus it will be seen that when the device is pushed against a pile of snow, the vapor and steam caused by the melting snow will be drawn into the chamber 30 by the fan 32, and through the pipe 3|, where it will be condensed and discharged. At the bottom of the contact plate l2 and at either side thereof, there are doors or shutters, 35 and 36. These shutters are slidably mounted so that they may be raised and fastening means 3'! are provided to hold them open when it is so desired.

When the device is used for melting snow against a curb, the inner shutter would ordinarily be open as shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the melted snow to run into the gutter. The entire device In is mounted on casters or suitable rolling means 38 and is supported by an A-frame on a standard truck 39. The frame consists of an upwardly extending pair of girders 40, which meet on their outer ends and support a pulley 4|. through which a chain is placed. The chain 42 is connected to the frame 43 extending upwardly from the machine. Extending forward from the axle 44 are two additional girders, 45, which are pivoted to the back of the chamber H at 46. A semi-circular member 41 is fastened to the back of the chamber II and adapted to move over the girders 45; at that point, the girders 45 are connected by a plate 48 having upwardly extending flanges to register with the member 41. The member 41 is provided with a series of holes 49 through which a pin 50 may be placed to fix the position of the member 41 with relation to the plate 48. The arms 23 are similarly fixed to the girders 45. Since the members 45 are pivoted at 5| to the fastening means 52, the entire device may be raised or lowered by the operator of the truck by means of the chain 42. It will be seen that the angle at which the entire device rests in relation to the truck may be varied by removing the pin 50 and sliding the member 41 to a different position. While the angle at which the device is placed will vary from time to time, due

to the arms 23, the side arms l8 will remain par- 7 allel to the truck and of course, parallel to the side of the road or curb.

In operation, the device may be fastened to the customary frame which is the standard equipment of most street cleaning department trucks in the manner shown, the burners 28 then lighted, thus heating the contact face [2. The driver of the truck then pushes the device against the snow and the arms 18 push the snow into and against the contact plate l2, while the wing members l9 direct the snow against the center of the contact plate, thus leaving the shutters free to allow the melted snow to flow backwardly down the gutter. As the snow melts, the water runs off through the gutters I4, and backward through the door 35 or 36. Vapor and steam caused by the melting snow is picked up by the fan 32 and condensed and discharged by the pipe 3|.

The entire unit is compact and highly mobile and, since it is adaptable for use with the ordinary truck, economical, as well as practical. When not in use, it may be stored in a relatively small space.

I claim:

l. A device for melting snow, comprising a contact plate, burners situated behindsaid contact plate and adapted to heat the same, and shutters in said contact plate to allow the passage of melted snow therethrough.

2. In a device for melting snow, comprising a cabinet, a contact plate on said cabinet and means in said cabinet for heating said contact plate, a pair of arm members pivoted on either end of said contact plate, said arm members having connecting means so that they are held in parallel relation one to the other.

3. A device for melting and disposing of snow, comprising a cabinet, a contact plate on said cabinet, a plurality of gutters, mounted on said contact plate, a shield extending over and above said contact plate, a chamber above said shield, tubular means leading from said shield to the rear of said cabinet and a fan in said chamber to draw vapors into said chamber and through said tubular means.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a cabinet and a contact plate on said cabinet, means for mounting said device on the front of a motor vehicle, and further means for varying the position of said cabinet, with relation to said motor vehicle, side arm members pivoted on either end of said plate and means for maintaining said side members parallel to each other in the direction of the truck.

5. A device of the character described, including a contact plate, means for heating said plate, shutters onthe lower and outer edges of said plate, side arm members pivoted to the edges of said plate and wings on said side arm members to force the snow toward the center of the said contact plate and away from said shutters.

6. A device for melting snow comprising a cabinet, a contact plate at the front of said cabinet, adjustable burners in said cabinet adapted to heat said contact plate, semi-tubular gutters on said contact plate and openings in said gutters to allow the melted snow to pass through from the upper gutters to the lower one.

'7. In a device for melting snow, a contact plate and means for heating said plate, arm members pivoted to the side of said contact plate adapted to push snow toward the center of said contact plate, means for varying the position of said contact plate, said arm members having connecting rods joined together at a fixed pivot, so that said arm members are at all times parallel to each other regardless of the position of said contact plate.

JOHN J. MARINO. 

